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  • Annual SMSF population analysis tables

    The following tables contain demographic information of SMSFs, as well as individual members, as at 30 June 2016. They also include a more detailed analysis of asset allocation of SMSFs, as well as estimates of the total amount of ‘flows’ into and out of SMSFs. These tables are updated on an annual basis, when the June quarter updates are published.

    Tables on this page:

    Asset allocation by asset value of the fund table

    This table contains the approximate distribution of assets held by SMSFs of different sizes, based on total fund assets. These tables are based on actual return data for the 2012 through to 2015 financial years.

    The data is provided by SMSFs reporting their financial position as at 30 June of the relevant financial year.

    The data was extracted on 12 July 2016.

    Asset value ranges of funds

    2012

    $1-
    $50k

    >$50-
    $100k

    >$100-
    $200k

    >$200-
    $500k

    >$500k
    -$1m

    >$1-
    $2m

    >$2-
    $5m

    >$5-
    $10m

    >$10m

    Listed trusts

    1.79%

    2.41%

    3.21%

    3.78%

    3.85%

    3.50%

    3.30%

    3.05%

    2.34%

    Unlisted trusts

    2.45%

    4.01%

    5.67%

    6.60%

    6.95%

    7.90%

    9.48%

    12.61%

    15.71%

    Insurance policy

    0.05%

    0.07%

    0.04%

    0.03%

    0.03%

    0.04%

    0.05%

    0.05%

    0.01%

    Other managed investments

    1.95%

    2.69%

    3.72%

    4.38%

    4.50%

    4.37%

    4.19%

    4.24%

    3.66%

    Cash and term deposits

    54.82%

    49.62%

    45.35%

    37.15%

    34.65%

    33.12%

    29.98%

    25.93%

    22.94%

    Debt securities

    0.15%

    0.21%

    0.32%

    0.55%

    0.76%

    0.84%

    0.93%

    1.08%

    1.13%

    Loans

    2.11%

    2.09%

    1.47%

    0.81%

    0.55%

    0.61%

    0.63%

    0.98%

    1.75%

    Listed shares

    22.45%

    25.29%

    26.56%

    27.46%

    27.76%

    27.96%

    27.92%

    27.89%

    27.05%

    Unlisted shares

    1.90%

    2.21%

    1.71%

    1.12%

    0.94%

    0.96%

    1.19%

    1.66%

    2.52%

    Limited recourse borrowing arrangements

    0.05%

    0.17%

    0.36%

    0.88%

    0.70%

    0.50%

    0.40%

    0.57%

    1.41%

    Non-residential real property

    0.68%

    1.74%

    3.64%

    8.12%

    10.86%

    12.68%

    14.75%

    15.37%

    13.79%

    Residential real property

    0.45%

    1.00%

    1.81%

    4.85%

    5.05%

    4.17%

    3.52%

    2.38%

    1.63%

    Collectables and personal use assets

    0.71%

    0.66%

    0.48%

    0.22%

    0.14%

    0.12%

    0.09%

    0.09%

    0.10%

    Other assets

    9.40%

    6.53%

    4.66%

    3.26%

    2.60%

    2.53%

    2.74%

    3.03%

    3.88%

    Overseas
    shares

    0.39%

    0.37%

    0.34%

    0.28%

    0.23%

    0.24%

    0.33%

    0.52%

    1.10%

    Overseas
    non- residential real property

    0.06%

    0.07%

    0.04%

    0.03%

    0.02%

    0.02%

    0.02%

    0.03%

    0.04%

    Overseas residential real property

    0.12%

    0.23%

    0.14%

    0.09%

    0.05%

    0.04%

    0.02%

    0.02%

    0.02%

    Overseas
    managed investments

    0.05%

    0.07%

    0.05%

    0.05%

    0.05%

    0.07%

    0.07%

    0.10%

    0.15%

    Other overseas assets

    0.42%

    0.57%

    0.44%

    0.35%

    0.32%

    0.34%

    0.37%

    0.42%

    0.78%

    Total

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    Asset value ranges of funds

    2013

    $1-
    $50k

    >$50-
    $100k

    >$100-
    $200k

    >$200-
    $500k

    >$500k
    -$1m

    >$1-
    $2m

    >$2-
    $5m

    >$5-
    $10m

    >$10m

    Listed trusts

    1.64%

    2.06%

    2.73%

    3.65%

    3.98%

    3.81%

    3.43%

    3.12%

    2.32%

    Unlisted trusts

    2.30%

    3.97%

    5.42%

    6.14%

    6.72%

    7.80%

    9.37%

    12.12%

    16.02%

    Insurance policy

    0.02%

    0.04%

    0.03%

    0.03%

    0.03%

    0.05%

    0.04%

    0.04%

    0.01%

    Other managed investments

    1.29%

    2.22%

    3.03%

    4.10%

    4.47%

    4.61%

    4.52%

    4.47%

    4.42%

    Cash and term deposits

    54.91%

    51.05%

    48.66%

    37.04%

    33.07%

    31.14%

    27.82%

    23.98%

    19.92%

    Debt securities

    0.14%

    0.18%

    0.29%

    0.51%

    0.76%

    0.95%

    1.07%

    1.28%

    1.56%

    Loans

    1.98%

    2.20%

    1.55%

    0.80%

    0.55%

    0.56%

    0.61%

    0.86%

    1.70%

    Listed shares

    21.63%

    23.19%

    23.98%

    26.22%

    28.10%

    29.78%

    30.63%

    30.87%

    28.73%

    Unlisted shares

    1.96%

    2.26%

    1.69%

    1.04%

    0.85%

    0.86%

    1.02%

    1.45%

    2.34%

    Limited recourse borrowing arrangements

    0.11%

    0.33%

    0.68%

    3.36%

    2.81%

    1.50%

    1.14%

    1.41%

    3.11%

    Non-residential real property

    0.86%

    1.78%

    3.71%

    8.19%

    10.38%

    11.80%

    13.60%

    13.87%

    12.63%

    Residential real property

    0.67%

    1.22%

    1.93%

    4.84%

    5.00%

    3.92%

    3.27%

    2.31%

    1.62%

    Collectables and personal use assets

    0.62%

    0.71%

    0.42%

    0.20%

    0.12%

    0.09%

    0.07%

    0.07%

    0.05%

    Other assets

    10.77%

    7.37%

    4.76%

    3.04%

    2.46%

    2.37%

    2.49%

    2.83%

    3.43%

    Overseas shares

    0.44%

    0.45%

    0.36%

    0.32%

    0.27%

    0.29%

    0.39%

    0.61%

    1.12%

    Overseas
    non- residential real property

    0.06%

    0.09%

    0.04%

    0.03%

    0.01%

    0.01%

    0.02%

    0.02%

    0.10%

    Overseas residential real property

    0.11%

    0.26%

    0.24%

    0.11%

    0.05%

    0.04%

    0.02%

    0.01%

    0.02%

    Overseas managed investments

    0.03%

    0.05%

    0.05%

    0.04%

    0.05%

    0.07%

    0.08%

    0.14%

    0.18%

    Other overseas assets

    0.45%

    0.57%

    0.43%

    0.35%

    0.31%

    0.34%

    0.41%

    0.53%

    0.73%

    Total

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    Asset value ranges of funds

    2014

    $1-
    $50k

    >$50-
    $100k

    >$100-
    $200k

    >$200-
    $500k

    >$500k
    -$1m

    >$1-
    $2m

    >$2-
    $5m

    >$5-
    $10m

    >$10m

    Listed trusts

    1.53%

    1.97%

    2.55%

    3.64%

    4.04%

    4.13%

    3.91%

    3.55%

    2.63%

    Unlisted trusts

    2.36%

    4.07%

    5.53%

    6.15%

    6.82%

    7.96%

    9.45%

    11.98%

    15.50%

    Insurance policy

    0.01%

    0.03%

    0.03%

    0.02%

    0.02%

    0.03%

    0.04%

    0.03%

    0.01%

    Other managed investments

    1.28%

    1.97%

    2.76%

    3.94%

    4.56%

    4.81%

    4.81%

    4.84%

    4.64%

    Cash and term deposits

    55.52%

    51.59%

    48.68%

    35.18%

    30.58%

    28.69%

    25.37%

    21.38%

    16.60%

    Debt securities

    0.14%

    0.19%

    0.28%

    0.54%

    0.84%

    1.10%

    1.33%

    1.55%

    1.80%

    Loans

    1.81%

    2.11%

    1.48%

    0.71%

    0.48%

    0.51%

    0.54%

    0.83%

    1.74%

    Listed shares

    20.22%

    21.91%

    23.43%

    25.72%

    28.41%

    31.29%

    32.69%

    33.34%

    31.69%

    Unlisted shares

    2.07%

    2.32%

    1.84%

    0.99%

    0.74%

    0.76%

    0.96%

    1.35%

    2.25%

    Limited recourse borrowing arrangements

    0.34%

    0.75%

    1.20%

    5.60%

    4.74%

    2.42%

    1.68%

    2.02%

    4.24%

    Non-residential real property

    0.95%

    1.91%

    3.69%

    8.24%

    10.15%

    11.16%

    12.54%

    12.78%

    11.73%

    Residential real property

    1.12%

    1.58%

    2.12%

    5.29%

    5.45%

    4.04%

    3.28%

    2.35%

    1.41%

    Collectables and personal use assets

    0.65%

    0.57%

    0.39%

    0.17%

    0.09%

    0.07%

    0.06%

    0.05%

    0.04%

    Other assets

    10.79%

    7.61%

    4.86%

    3.02%

    2.44%

    2.36%

    2.48%

    2.75%

    3.56%

    Overseas shares

    0.38%

    0.35%

    0.32%

    0.24%

    0.20%

    0.22%

    0.34%

    0.50%

    0.89%

    Overseas
    non- residential real property

    0.10%

    0.06%

    0.06%

    0.03%

    0.02%

    0.01%

    0.01%

    0.02%

    0.08%

    Overseas residential real property

    0.22%

    0.27%

    0.29%

    0.12%

    0.05%

    0.04%

    0.03%

    0.01%

    0.00%

    Overseas managed investments

    0.06%

    0.06%

    0.05%

    0.05%

    0.06%

    0.06%

    0.08%

    0.14%

    0.29%

    Other overseas assets

    0.45%

    0.68%

    0.44%

    0.35%

    0.31%

    0.34%

    0.40%

    0.51%

    0.90%

    Total

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    Asset value ranges of funds

    2015

    $1-
    $50k

    >$50-
    $100k

    >$100-
    $200k

    >$200-
    $500k

    >$500k
    -$1m

    >$1-
    $2m

    >$2-
    $5m

    >$5-
    $10m

    >$10m

    Listed trusts

    1.46%

    2.03%

    2.85%

    3.94%

    4.50%

    4.68%

    4.40%

    4.01%

    3.14%

    Unlisted trusts

    1.98%

    3.78%

    5.53%

    6.21%

    6.91%

    8.17%

    9.72%

    11.91%

    16.98%

    Insurance policy

    0.01%

    0.02%

    0.01%

    0.02%

    0.01%

    0.03%

    0.03%

    0.03%

    0.03%

    Other managed investments

    1.31%

    2.02%

    2.80%

    4.01%

    4.83%

    5.23%

    5.27%

    5.40%

    5.44%

    Cash and term deposits

    54.90%

    50.94%

    47.56%

    33.42%

    28.80%

    27.26%

    24.22%

    20.57%

    15.76%

    Debt securities

    0.08%

    0.21%

    0.27%

    0.63%

    1.01%

    1.27%

    1.51%

    1.64%

    1.94%

    Loans

    1.35%

    1.71%

    1.16%

    0.62%

    0.45%

    0.45%

    0.51%

    0.77%

    1.62%

    Listed shares

    22.30%

    22.90%

    24.23%

    25.90%

    28.46%

    31.32%

    32.71%

    33.10%

    30.47%

    Unlisted shares

    2.28%

    2.16%

    1.82%

    0.93%

    0.69%

    0.73%

    0.93%

    1.23%

    2.55%

    Limited recourse borrowing arrangements

    0.24%

    0.72%

    1.39%

    7.14%

    6.01%

    2.91%

    1.90%

    2.19%

    4.19%

    Non-residential real property

    0.86%

    1.90%

    3.56%

    7.82%

    9.49%

    10.45%

    11.72%

    12.02%

    10.33%

    Residential real property

    1.10%

    2.02%

    2.36%

    5.39%

    5.56%

    4.18%

    3.31%

    2.51%

    1.53%

    Collectables and personal use assets

    0.47%

    0.46%

    0.33%

    0.12%

    0.08%

    0.06%

    0.05%

    0.04%

    0.02%

    Other assets

    10.46%

    7.65%

    4.90%

    2.97%

    2.42%

    2.38%

    2.59%

    2.97%

    3.57%

    Overseas shares

    0.50%

    0.48%

    0.44%

    0.39%

    0.34%

    0.38%

    0.53%

    0.83%

    1.17%

    Overseas non- residential real property

    0.04%

    0.08%

    0.05%

    0.02%

    0.02%

    0.01%

    0.01%

    0.02%

    0.06%

    Overseas residential real property

    0.19%

    0.30%

    0.25%

    0.09%

    0.05%

    0.03%

    0.03%

    0.01%

    0.01%

    Overseas managed investments

    0.03%

    0.04%

    0.06%

    0.06%

    0.06%

    0.08%

    0.10%

    0.18%

    0.34%

    Other overseas assets

    0.43%

    0.57%

    0.45%

    0.33%

    0.31%

    0.36%

    0.45%

    0.56%

    0.83%

    Total

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    100.00%

    Membership sizes table

    This table contains an approximate distribution of the number of members in SMSFs as at the end of each financial year for the 2012 through to the 2015 years. These figures are based on SMSF annual return data.

    The data was extracted on 12 July 2016.

    Proportion of funds (%)

    Number of members

    2011–12

    2012–13

    2013–14

    2014–15

    1

    22.8%

    22.6%

    22.6%

    22.7%

    2

    68.8%

    69.2%

    69.5%

    69.8%

    3

    4.1%

    4.0%

    3.8%

    3.7%

    4

    4.3%

    4.2%

    4.1%

    3.9%

    Demographic table

    This table contains estimates of the proportion of funds, members and assets located across the different states and territories of Australia.

    State refers to the state or territory that the fund is administered, not necessarily where the members live.

    These figures are estimates based on SMSF annual return data for the 2012 to 2015 financial years.

    The data was extracted on 12 July 2016.

    Funds

     State

    2011–12

    2012–13

    2013–14

    2014–15

    ACT

    1.8%

    1.8%

    1.9%

    1.7%

    NSW

    31.8%

    32.0%

    32.5%

    32.7%

    NT

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    QLD

    16.6%

    16.4%

    16.3%

    16.6%

    SA

    7.1%

    7.2%

    7.1%

    7.1%

    TAS

    1.4%

    1.4%

    1.4%

    1.3%

    VIC

    30.6%

    30.8%

    30.6%

    30.4%

    WA

    10.4%

    10.3%

    10.1%

    9.9%

    Members

     State

    2011–12

    2012–13

    2013–14

    2014–15

    ACT

    1.8%

    1.8%

    1.9%

    1.7%

    NSW

    31.9%

    32.0%

    32.6%

    32.8%

    NT

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    QLD

    16.6%

    16.4%

    16.3%

    16.6%

    SA

    7.2%

    7.2%

    7.1%

    7.1%

    TAS

    1.4%

    1.4%

    1.4%

    1.3%

    VIC

    30.5%

    30.7%

    30.5%

    30.4%

    WA

    10.4%

    10.3%

    10.1%

    10.0%

    Assets

     State

    2011–12

    2012–13

    2013–14

    2014–15

    ACT

    1.8%

    1.8%

    1.9%

    1.8%

    NSW

    32.3%

    32.6%

    33.4%

    34.3%

    NT

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    0.2%

    QLD

    16.4%

    16.1%

    15.7%

    15.8%

    SA

    7.2%

    7.3%

    7.3%

    7.2%

    TAS

    1.3%

    1.3%

    1.2%

    1.2%

    VIC

    30.8%

    31.1%

    30.8%

    30.3%

    WA

    10.1%

    9.7%

    9.5%

    9.3%

    Member demographic table – age ranges

    This table contains an approximate age distribution of individuals who were members of SMSFs as at the end of June 2016. The data behind this table was extracted on 12 July 2016 and is an estimate based on Australian Business Register (ABR) data.

    Member demographic table – age ranges

    Age ranges

    Male

    Female

    Total

    <25

    0.7%

    0.7%

    0.7%

    25–34

    3.9%

    4.1%

    4.0%

    35–44

    12.2%

    13.5%

    12.8%

    45–49

    10.0%

    11.1%

    10.5%

    50–54

    11.8%

    12.7%

    12.3%

    55–59

    13.5%

    14.3%

    13.9%

    60–64

    13.7%

    14.4%

    14.1%

    65–69

    14.3%

    13.9%

    14.2%

    70–74

    10.3%

    8.8%

    9.6%

    75–84

    8.4%

    5.9%

    7.2%

    85+

    1.1%

    0.6%

    0.9%

    Unknown

    0.0%

    0.0%

    0.0%

    Total

    100%

    100%

    100%

    All ages

    52.6%

    47.4%

    100%

    Member demographic table – income ranges

    This table contains an approximate distribution of the taxable income of individuals who were SMSF members as at the end of June 2016. The data was extracted on 12 July 2016 and is an estimate based on ABR data and the member’s most recently lodged personal tax return.

    Member demographic table – income ranges

    Income ranges

    Male

    Female

    Total

    $0–$20,000

    18.5%

    25.4%

    21.8%

    >$20,000–$40,000

    16.2%

    21.5%

    18.7%

    >$40,000–$60,000

    11.4%

    14.3%

    12.8%

    >$60,000–$80,000

    11.1%

    11.0%

    11.1%

    >$80,000–$100,000

    8.6%

    7.2%

    7.9%

    >$100,000–$150,000

    12.2%

    7.6%

    10.0%

    >$150,000–$200,000

    7.4%

    4.5%

    6.0%

    >$200,000–$500,000

    8.3%

    3.6%

    6.1%

    >$500,000

    2.6%

    0.8%

    1.7%

    Unknown

    3.8%

    4.1%

    3.9%

    Total

    100%

    100%

    100%

    Total asset range tables

    These tables show an approximate distribution of SMSFs by asset size and of the assets held by SMSFs of different sizes as at the end of each financial year.

    These figures are estimates based on SMSF annual return data for the 2012 to 2015 financial years.

    The data was extracted on 12 July 2016.

    Total asset range table – proportion of funds (%)

    Asset ranges

    2011–12

    2012–13

    2013–14

    2014–15

    $1–$50,000

    7.5%

    7.4%

    6.7%

    6.1%

    >$50,000–$100,000

    6.0%

    5.5%

    4.8%

    4.1%

    >$100,000–$200,000

    11.6%

    10.9%

    10.0%

    8.9%

    >$200,000–$500,000

    25.5%

    24.8%

    24.2%

    23.7%

    >$500,000–$1m

    22.7%

    22.8%

    23.4%

    24.2%

    >$1m–$2m

    16.3%

    17.0%

    17.9%

    18.8%

    >$2m–$5m

    8.7%

    9.6%

    10.5%

    11.4%

    >$5m–$10m

    1.5%

    1.8%

    2.1%

    2.3%

    >$10m

    0.3%

    0.4%

    0.5%

    0.5%

    Total

    100%

    100%

    100%

    100%

    Total asset range table – proportion of assets (%)

    Asset ranges

    2011–12

    2012–13

    2013–14

    2014–15

    $1–$50,000

    0.2%

    0.1%

    0.1%

    0.1%

    >$50,000–$100,000

    0.5%

    0.4%

    0.3%

    0.3%

    >$100,000–$200,000

    1.9%

    1.7%

    1.4%

    1.2%

    >$200,000–$500,000

    9.6%

    8.7%

    8.0%

    7.4%

    >$500,000–$1m

    18.0%

    16.9%

    16.1%

    15.7%

    >$1m–$2m

    25.1%

    24.6%

    24.0%

    23.8%

    >$2m–$5m

    28.4%

    29.4%

    29.9%

    30.5%

    >$5m–$10m

    10.9%

    12.0%

    13.1%

    13.5%

    >$10m

    5.5%

    6.1%

    7.0%

    7.6%

    Total

    100%

    100%

    100%

    100%

    Average and median assets table ($)

    This table approximates the average and median assets per SMSF member and per SMSF at the end of each financial year.

    These figures are estimates based on SMSF annual return data for the 2012 to 2015 financial years.

    The data was extracted on 12 July 2016.

    Average and median assets table ($)

     Asset values

    2011–12

    2012–13

    2013–14

    2014–15

    Average assets per member

    475,698

    510,136

    551,217

    589,636

    Median assets per member

    275,313

    299,407

    325,542

    354,882

    Average assets per SMSF

    902,917

    968,139

    1,043,812

    1,111,732

    Median assets per SMSF

    493,348

    535,274

    581,710

    631,077

    Flow of funds table ($m)

    This table shows estimates of the total amount of ‘flows’ into and out of SMSFs during each financial year. It contains totals relating to the following:

    • contributions – member and employer
    • transfers – inward and outward
    • benefits payments
    • total expenses.

    The 'total expenses' referred to in this table include deductible and non-deductible expenses reported on the SMSF annual return.

    Prior SMSF statistical reports reported expenses as 'operating expenses'. We now refer to them as 'total expenses' and provide a breakdown into 'investment expenses' and 'administration and operating expenses'. The following return labels are used in each expense category:

    Investments expenses

    • interest expenses within Australia
    • interest expenses overseas
    • insurance premiums – members
    • investment expenses
    • forestry management investment scheme expense

    Administration and operating expenses

    • SMSF auditor fee
    • management and administration expenses
    • other amounts

    These figures are estimates based on SMSF annual return data for the 2012 to 2015 financial years.

    The data was extracted on 12 July 2016.

    Flow of funds table ($m)

     

    Contributions ($m)

    Transfers ($m)

    Benefit payments ($m)

    Total expenses ($m)

    Member contributions

    Employer contributions

    Inward transfers

    Outward transfers

    Investment expenses

    Administration and operating expenses

    2011–12

    19,168

    7,500

    16,051

    3,794

    22,656

    1,440

    1,272

    2012–13

    18,057

    5,460

    16,648

    4,285

    25,678

    2,501

    2,289

    2013–14

    19,891

    6,068

    15,364

    5,136

    29,898

    3,011

    2,528

    2014–15

    25,920

    6,930

    15,561

    5,694

    34,986

    3,449

    2,837

      Last modified: 14 Jul 2017QC 51586